Driver Flees Rio Linda Intersection Collision
A hit-and-run on September 18 at a Rio Linda intersection resulted in injuries. The accident report by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the collision, which involved three to four vehicles, happened around 10:22 a.m. at the intersection of Dry Creek Road and Elkhorn Boulevard. The accident partially blocked the roadway, and a Chevy S-10 pickup reportedly struck a tree.
Accident Being Investigated in Rio Linda
It was also reported that an SUV hit a pole. No additional information was provided about injuries suffered in the hit-and-run crash or the fleeing driver. The accident is being investigated by authorities to find fault and discover how it happened.
Accidents at Intersections
Intersections are the most common areas where accidents occur, accounting for more than half of all collisions. Hit-and-run drivers are also common due to some of the reasons that follow:
- A motorist who runs a red light, causes an accident, and flees becomes a hit-and-run driver. Accidents of this type often involve a T-bone collision with another vehicle or the driver injures a bicycle rider or pedestrian. Rather than face up to what they have done, they flee the scene.
- Speeders are a danger everywhere because they can lose control of their vehicle or can’t stop in time to avoid a crash. Speeders are especially dangerous when they cause a head-on or T-bone accident. Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians are at risk of becoming a fatality because of their lack of protection when a hit-and-run occurs.
- Fatigued drivers can fall asleep at the wheel or drift out of their lane. When approaching an intersection, the fatigued driver may be too sleepy to realize they need to stop.
- Those who are driving a stolen vehicle, have contraband inside or who have outstanding tickets are more likely to commit a hit-and-run. In other cases, they may have no license or it expired, or they have no insurance. Still, the third type panics and commits a hit-and-run. Those types of drivers often turn themselves in later when they’ve had time to think.
Finding the Hit-and-Run Driver
Over the years, my law office has had a good record of locating a hit-and-run driver. Besides working with local police, we conduct our own investigation to find the fleeing driver. Some of the areas in which evidence is collected to locate the driver include:
- Area traffic cameras are checked to see if the hit-and-run was caught on film. If it was, it can provide valuable information on the vehicle and perhaps the driver.
- The police report is checked for errors.
- Accident reconstruction is performed to determine who was at fault for the hit-and-run and for the collision.
- The area is scoured for evidence such as dropped metal pieces from the vehicle and paint smears, which can help identify the make and model.
- Witnesses are interviewed. Some may be able to identify the vehicle, recall at least part of the license plate, and describe the driver.
Using Insurance to Pay for Accident Injuries
If the driver isn’t located, the injured person can use their uninsured/underinsured insurance policy to cover their losses. If the injured party doesn’t have this add-on policy, but another household member does, that can be used instead. Insurance rates remain unaffected if the policy is used. An injury attorney can negotiate with the insurance company on the client’s behalf to help the case reach a successful resolution.
Rio Linda Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Linda car accident lawyer. When you suffer injuries in a collision caused by someone else, we have free and friendly advice to offer you to find out if you can file a compensation claim. You can contact us at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 or by messaging us online.
We’ve helped Rio Linda residents since 1982 to get fair compensation in all varieties of traffic accidents, injury claims against government entities, and wrongful death cases.
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Additional information about how my legal team and I have helped others can be found on the following links:
Photo attribution: Image by Vladyslav Topyekha from Pixabay
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